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Post by soundhound on Feb 18, 2007 13:53:51 GMT -7
I recently got a KT-45 and LOVE it. Great amp. I play it both cranked for drive without pedals and lower with pedals for drive. Just a great all around amp.
It came with a solid state rectifier, I believe. I'm interested in trying a tube rectifier because the amp is a bit unforigiviing (which I know my chops will thank me for later ;D). But I'd like to see what it sounds/feels like with a tube rectifier.
So a few questions
1) How do I check which kind of recitifier it has? 2) What would the differences in tone and play be with a tube rectifier? 3) Any recommendations for which kind/tube to use etc? I'm assuming I'd take it to my local tech to get it done. 4) Any insights/comments/preferences between the two types with this amp?
thanks!
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Post by skydog958 on Feb 18, 2007 16:03:54 GMT -7
Well,
1) Check the tubes. If yours has a SS rec then there should be 4 tubes--the two preamps (smaller) and the two output (longer). If there's one more that's a little wider than the output tubes that's a tube rec.
2) Using a tube rec will bring the headroom and overall wattage down a bit. It should make the amp feel a bit more touch sensitive and add a bit of sag to the sound, mostly at high levels. I have a tube rec in mine and it's still surprisingly tight with a strong tube rec.
3) Get a good NOS one. Mike at KCA NOS tubes is a great reliable source. I bought a NOS JAN Philips/Sylvania 5AR4 mislabeled 5V4GA and it's wonderful. A few other forum members have them in their Z amps and love them. When you get it, you need to rebias the output tubes because a SS rec runs higher plate voltages than a tube rec. I believe Myles (forum tube guru from Groove Tubes) suggested 34-36mA bias if you are using GT E34LS #6 tubes which is what comes stock in a 45, but you should ask him yourself just to be sure.
4) Get a good NOS EF86 from Mike too. The Dario Miniwatt and GEC ones are good (I have the GEC). It's expensive but the improvement is quite noticeable. Also get a balanced 12AX7 for the phase inverter.
Oh, and enjoy your amp!!
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Post by soundhound on Feb 20, 2007 13:28:24 GMT -7
thanks so much for the comprehensive info Skydog (great screenname btw!). Have you heard the amp w/the ss rectifier? Would you recommend making the switch to tube?
again, can't thank you enough, really appreciate the effort. And I do love this amp. I have a few other nice amps (tonekinng, badcat, bassman ri) but they are sitting around during this honeymoon!
cheers
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Post by skydog958 on Feb 20, 2007 16:36:30 GMT -7
Mine came with a tube rectifier, so I couldn't say how different it sounds. Myles prefers it with a tube rec.
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Post by soundhound on Feb 20, 2007 17:15:18 GMT -7
Okay thanks. Hey Myles. Paging Myles, Dr. Myles white courtesy phone...could you give a lowdown on the differences between ss and tube rectifiers with the KT-45?
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Post by skydog958 on Feb 20, 2007 18:37:45 GMT -7
Go into the Ask the Experts section and post in the Ask Myles thread, or you can PM him yourself.
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Post by soundhound on Feb 21, 2007 17:14:41 GMT -7
thanks, will do
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lucey
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by lucey on Feb 28, 2007 9:41:00 GMT -7
my friend has the kt-45 and i spent over 3 hours A/Bing tubes. the SS rec is too hard IMO. a tube is just more musical, and dont worry as it wont change the amps general character, and surely not for the worse. the NOS rec and EF86 had the most impact, vs the power tubes (if new). Amperex EF86 or Mullard or Telefunken would be my choice. For the Rec we went with a NOS '50s Marconi Radiotron that was a slightly different designation and it's amazing, $30 from www.tubeworld.com
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Post by soundhound on Mar 2, 2007 15:09:28 GMT -7
Does anyone have a pic of the back of a KT-45 so I could see where the rectifier tube goes? thanks!
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Post by cashandkerouac on Apr 3, 2007 22:02:02 GMT -7
i swapped the SS rectifier for a tube rectifier, and what a differnece. there is no comparison. the tube wins hands down. it makes me really wonder why the good doctor decided to make the SS rectifier a stock item in the KT-45.
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Post by dock66 on Apr 4, 2007 7:58:25 GMT -7
I am partial to a tube rectifier,it just sounds amazing to my ears. I have a NOS JAN/Phillips mislabeled from Mike which makes a difference.
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Post by cashandkerouac on Apr 6, 2007 8:46:52 GMT -7
it seems that at least a few of us went to that mislabeled NOS JAN/Phillips rec tube from Mike and all are very satisfied. when i swapped out the rectifier i also swapped the other tubes as well (except for the Miniwatt EF86). i got a matched matched pair of the Tesla (not JJ) EL34s and a Tesla (not JJ) balanced ECC83. the amp sounds so creamy on the top end with much better low end response and sweet rich musical harmonics.
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